Aarogya Setu 2.0 and ABHA: What Changed for Families
Aarogya Setu 2.0 turns the old COVID-19 contact-tracing app into a personal health record app under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission. Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda launched it on 29 June 2026, after the app moved from the IT ministry to the National Health Authority. If Aarogya Setu is still on your phone from 2020, an update gives you the new version. For families, the big change is that your ABHA, records and hospital registration can now live in one government app.
What changed: from COVID tracker to health records app
The original Aarogya Setu was built for one emergency. It reached over 20 crore downloads by tracking exposure risk. Version 2.0 keeps the familiar name but has a completely different job.
Old app vs new app
Feature | Aarogya Setu (2020) | Aarogya Setu 2.0 (2026) |
Main purpose | COVID-19 contact tracing | Personal health record under ABDM |
Run by | MeitY / NIC | National Health Authority |
ABHA creation and login | Added later, basic | Core feature, incl. Aadhaar face authentication |
Family profiles | No | Yes |
Hospital QR registration | No | Yes (Scan and Register) |
AI record digitisation and dashboard | No | Yes |
Find PM-JAY hospitals, blood units | No | Yes, incl. e-RaktKosh |
The headline Aarogya Setu new features
The Aarogya Setu new features that matter most to families are:
ABHA in one place: create, log in to and download your ABHA card.
Family records: manage health records for parents and children from one phone.
Scan and Register: scan a hospital QR code to get an OPD token.
AI dashboard: the app can digitise uploaded medical records into a personal health dashboard.
Healthcare finder: search PM-JAY empanelled hospitals, nearby facilities and Jan Aushadhi Kendras, and view blood availability via e-RaktKosh.
Consent control: approve or revoke who can access your linked records.
Why the government relaunched it
India now has around 94 crore ABHA accounts and over 105 crore linked health records. What it lacked was one simple citizen-facing app. Aarogya Setu already had name recognition, so the NHA rebuilt it as the front door to the system.
Aarogya Setu ABHA: login, creation and family setup
The core of the new app is your ABHA. Here's how to get set up in about ten minutes.
Aarogya Setu login and ABHA creation
Update or install Aarogya Setu from the Google Play Store or App Store.
Open it and choose to log in with your mobile number and OTP.
If you already have an ABHA, link it by number, address or Aadhaar OTP.
If you don't, tap Create ABHA and verify through Aadhaar OTP or face authentication.
Set an @abdm address and download your card.
Prefer the website? Our pillar guide on ABHA card download covers the portal and the separate ABHA app too.
Five things families should do this week
1. Add every family member. Create or link ABHAs for parents and children.
2. Download each card. Save the PDFs somewhere you'll find them quickly.
3. Link recent records. Pull reports from ABDM-enabled hospitals and labs you've visited.
4. Check consents. Review any approvals and revoke ones you don't recognise.
5. Save your local hospital. Use the finder to locate the nearest PM-JAY empanelled hospital before you need it.
What about the old COVID data?
If you used the app in 2020, your contact-tracing status no longer drives anything in version 2.0. If you're unsure what an app holds about you, review its privacy policy and permissions in your phone settings before signing in.
IN SIMPLE TERMS In simple terms: Aarogya Setu is no longer a COVID app. It's now a government app where your whole family's health ID and records can live together. Update it, add your family, and check who has permission to see your records. |
What Aarogya Setu 2.0 can't do (and how to fill the gaps)
The app is a useful family health records app, but it isn't a hospital, an insurer or a complete filing system on its own.
It doesn't pay for treatment
Seeing PM-JAY hospitals in the app doesn't mean you're covered. Cashless treatment needs an Ayushman card or Ayushman Vay Vandana card. If your parents are 70 or older, make their Vay Vandana card separately through the Ayushman app or beneficiary.nha.gov.in.
It only pulls from connected providers
Records flow automatically only from hospitals, labs and clinics that are ABDM-enabled. Your old paper reports, private clinic prescriptions and many smaller labs won't appear on their own. You'll need to upload or scan those. Our guide on how to link health records to ABHA shows both routes, automatic and manual.
It's voluntary, and consent is yours
Using Aarogya Setu 2.0 is not compulsory. Hospitals can't refuse treatment because you don't use the app. Within the app, records are shared only with your consent, and you can revoke access. If you're worried about data sharing, our explainer on is ABHA safe covers who can see what.
WATCH OUT Watch out: Download the app only from the official Play Store or App Store listing published by the government. Lookalike apps with similar icons may try to collect your Aadhaar OTP. |
When to see a doctor (and when to get app help)
The app organises care; it doesn't replace it. Act promptly when:
The AI dashboard flags an abnormal value in a report. Discuss it with your doctor rather than relying on the summary.
A family member has new symptoms like persistent fever, breathlessness or unexplained weight loss.
You see linked records or consents you don't recognise. Call the ABDM helpline at 1800-11-4477.
The hospital finder lists a facility, but you're unsure it treats your condition. Phone ahead before travelling.
In an emergency, go to the nearest hospital or call 112 or 108. Don't wait to open an app.
FAQs
What is Aarogya Setu 2.0?
Aarogya Setu 2.0 is the relaunched government health app, launched on 29 June 2026 and now run by the National Health Authority. It works as a personal health record app under ABDM, letting you create and use your ABHA, manage family health records, register at hospitals by QR scan and find empanelled hospitals and blood availability.
Is Aarogya Setu 2.0 mandatory?
No. Using Aarogya Setu 2.0 is entirely voluntary, and so is creating an ABHA. No hospital can refuse treatment because you don't use the app. You can also use the ABHA app, the abha.abdm.gov.in website or other ABDM-listed apps instead. Choose whichever is easiest for your family to manage day to day.
How do I log in to Aarogya Setu with ABHA?
Update or install the app, log in with your mobile number and OTP, then link your existing ABHA using your 14-digit number, @abdm address or Aadhaar OTP. If you don't have an ABHA, create one inside the app using Aadhaar OTP or face authentication, then set your address and download your card.
Can I manage my parents' records in Aarogya Setu 2.0?
Yes. The app supports family health records, so you can add parents and children and switch between their profiles. Each person still needs their own ABHA. Once linked, you can view their records from ABDM-enabled providers, use Scan and Register for them at hospitals, and manage their consent settings from your phone.
Does Aarogya Setu 2.0 give Ayushman ₹5 lakh cover?
No. The app helps you find PM-JAY empanelled hospitals, but it doesn't provide insurance. Cashless cover of ₹5 lakh a year comes only from the Ayushman card for eligible families or the Ayushman Vay Vandana card for seniors aged 70 and above. Check eligibility at beneficiary.nha.gov.in or in the Ayushman app.
Download Seht — free on iOS and Android
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Sources and references
Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. "Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission" backgrounder, July 2026 (Aarogya Setu 2.0 relaunch and features). static.pib.gov.in.
Drishti IAS, State PCS Current Affairs. "Aarogya Setu 2.0 Launched as National Health App," 1 July 2026 (summary of the official launch).
MyGov and National Health Authority. Aarogya Setu 2.0 Reel Making Competition brief, August 2026 (feature list). mygov.in.
Digital Health News. "Aarogya Setu 2.0: How India is Building a Citizen-Centric Digital Health Gateway," September 2026.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. ABDM 3rd Mission Steering Group update, 10 July 2026, as reported by GKToday.
Disclaimer: This blog is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Seht helps families stay informed, but is not a substitute for professional healthcare guidance.
